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Posted: 07/04/12

RCS given minor
changes for tech bond

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Romeo Community Schools has received a preliminary blessing from the state to ask residents for a bond that would fund technology.
       Following a trip to the Michigan Department of Treasury, school officials have small changes to make before presenting a $16.4 million bond proposal to the Board of Education at its July 16 meeting.
       Superintendent Nancy Campbell said she and a number of officials presented a bond that would levy an average of 1.52 mills over a period of eight years and four months to make technology upgrades.
       She said once it was reviewed, department representatives had 17 "minor" changes to make to the proposal before it could be approved.
       She said these changes will be made and the proposal will go before the board. Should the board approve, the proposal is again submitted to the state for a final thumbs up.
       "Things are going along the way they should," Campbell said.
       The board would need to approve of the actual ballot language in August for the November ballot. Campbell said the choice to put the issue before voters during the presidential election was based on not paying for a special election.
       "The reason why is to save taxpayers money," she said.
       Administrators claim the bond, if passed, will not cost residents any new tax dollars. This is caused by maturing bonds from 2005 and 2008 exceeding the cost of the technology bond each year.
       The maximum of debt mills that would be levied in 2013-14 would be 4.05 if the bond passed. This would be a decrease from the 2012-13 debt levy of 4.2 mills.
       "If you're accustomed to paying X amount of dollars, you won't pay more than that," Campbell said.
       Of the money raised, 79 percent would go toward these devices or upgrades in the classroom, while another 10 percent would invest in upgrading the district's wireless network.
       The bond would pay for every student in the district to have personal devices for school use. The bond would also include buying interactive projection systems for all classrooms and a video distribution system.
       Campbell said these types of technological advances would put Romeo schools "on the map."
       "I don't know of another nearby district that has taken the stand and vision that every child needs the utility of having technology in their hands," she said.
       She said she has already gained the support of residents to form bond committees, and will seek assistance from the board to work on a marketing campaign.
       "We are very hopeful for our community's approval to have technology for every student as a result of this bond," Campbell said.